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After a year of lockdowns and restrictions on public gatherings, the Mackinac Center cherishes opportunities to once again get together with others interested in public policy issues. On Aug. 19, the Center welcomed a crowd of supporters to a luncheon at the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum in Portage. The topic for discussion was more than appropriate: emergency powers and pandemic mismanagement.
Michael Van Beek, the Center’s director of research, presented “10 Rules for Responding to Pandemics,” a paper published earlier this year. It uses Michigan’s experience with the COVID-19 pandemic as a way of learning how policymakers can better handle a pandemic. It deals primarily with improving the process governments use to respond, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, consistency and transparency.
Van Beek pointed out that although a pandemic can pose a serious risk to the public, policymakers need to remember all health concerns when crafting policies to mitigate its potential harms. A focus on just the disease at hand can lead to a worse overall outcome if more people suffer from other health ailments as a result. He also explained why public officials should use a risk-based analysis to determine where interventions are needed, as opposed to the subjective approach of labeling certain behavior “essential” and other behavior “nonessential.”
Attendees also heard an update on the latest happenings in Lansing from David Guenthner, the Mackinac Center’s senior strategist for state affairs. While the summer is often a slow time for the Legislature, there were still important policies to debate, such as the details of the state budget. Guenthner provided an inside look at how these debates were shaping up and explained the Center’s priorities in promoting sound public policies.
In addition to participating in the lunch and lecture, attendees toured the Air Zoo. The museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and has on display more than 100 aviation- and space-related artifacts, including several full-size airplanes. For thrill seekers, it also features full-motion flight simulators and a few amusement rides. Dozens of attendees took advantage of this opportunity and enjoyed learning more about the history of aviation and the role Michigan and the Kalamazoo area play in that story.
The Center plans to continue hosting luncheons like this one throughout the rest of the year and into 2022. Most of these events will be in our new Freedom Embassy, right across the street from the state Capitol, but we plan to continue to host them in different parts of the state so that we can engage with a broader audience. Look for an event in your area soon!
